You can customize maps in Google Maps on desktop or mobile, though drawing a custom route is easier to do on a computer.
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To create a route in Google Maps, open “Your places” and then choose “Create Map” in the “Maps” tab.
To draw a route, click “Add directions,” choose transportation mode, and enter start and end points.
You can draw lines and shapes on maps by clicking “Draw a line” and selecting “Add line or shape.”
Google Maps may be best known for its ability to deliver turn-by-turn directions, but it has another useful purpose: You can use it to create maps on which you can draw routes, lines, and shapes.
You can then save those maps or share them with others. It’s a handy way to pre-plan a trip or share driving directions with someone without needing an internet connection.
How to draw a custom route on Google Maps on Windows or macOS
Google Maps includes the tools you need to draw a route on a map and save it for future reference — you can open it anytime you want to or share a link with others.
1. Open Google Maps in a browser and make sure you are signed into your Google account.
2. Click the horizontal lines in the top left corner and then, in the menu, click Your places.
3. Click the Maps tab at the top of the page. You should now see any maps you’ve already saved. If you’ve never used Your Places before, this list may be empty.
4. At the bottom of the page, click Create Map.
Within “Your places,” go to “Maps” and create a new map.
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5. On the Untitled map page, you can now choose the kind of map you want to put the route on top of. Click the dropdown arrow to the left of Base map and choose the map style you prefer.
In the “Base map” drop-down, select the map style you want.
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6. Under the search field at the top of the page, click Add directions (the button looks like a Y-shaped road). You should now see an Untitled layer with fields to enter driving destinations.
Click “Add directions.”
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7. By default, you’ll get driving directions. If you are using a different mode of transportation, such as cycling or walking, click the car-shaped icon and choose how you’re going to travel through the route; then click the X to close the flyout window.
Choose the transportation mode.
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8. Click in the A field and enter an address or location name, and choose it when you see it appear in the search results.
9. Repeat that process to select a location for B.
10. If you want to add additional waypoints or destinations, click Add destination and continue to add new places.
11. When you’re done, click Untitled map at the top of the page and give it a name.
You can give your map a name.
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Quick tip: You can send this map to another person using the Share link below the name you’ve given the map. You can also return to Your places in the future and find this map saved in the Maps tab.
How to add a custom route on a separate layer on Google Maps desktop
You can add more than one custom route on the map you have created, and it will be on a separate layer.
1. After completing the steps in the previous section, click Add directions to create another route – it will be added on a separate layer.
Click “Add directions.”
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2. Click the car-shaped icon, choose the transportation mode for that route, then click the X button to close the flyout window.
Choose the transportation mode.
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3. Enter directions for the start point in the text box next to A – like you did in the previous section.
4. Enter the directions for the end point in the text box next to B.
5. If you want to name the layers to make them easily distinguishable, click the Untitled layer heading and give it a name.
You can also name the routes to better distinguish them.
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How to draw a line or shape on Google Maps desktop
Google Maps has a couple of simple drawing tools you can use to customize a map that you’ve saved to Your places. Here’s how to draw a line or a shape (like a square, triangle or polygon) on a map:
1. Open Google Maps in a browser and make sure you are signed into your Google account.
2. Click the three horizontal lines menu in the top left corner and then, in the menu, click Your places.
Click on the menu in the search bar.
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3. Click the Maps tab at the top of the page.
4. Open an existing map or click Create Map at the bottom of the page to create a new one.
Open a previously-saved map or create a new one.
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5. Under the search field at the top of the page, click Draw a line (the button looks like three lines and three dots). Click Add line or shape in the dropdown menu.
You can add lines and shapes to a custom map.
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6. Click the map where you want the shape to begin. Then:
To make a single straight line, drag the mouse to create the line and double-click where you want the line to end.
To make a line with multiple intermediate points, make a series of single clicks wherever you want the line to go, and double-click the last point to end the line.To make a polygon (any shape with three or more sides), click on the map in each place you want to put a corner. To close the shape, double-click on the starting point.
7. Name the line or shape in the dialog box and click Save.
Name the line or shape you’ve created.
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You can edit the shape after you create it. Position the mouse pointer over the line or shape — when it changes from an open hand (which you can use to drag the map around) to a closed hand with a pointing finger, click. You’ll then see the edit window. Use the tools in the lower-right corner to change the color, rename the shape, and upload an image to associate with the shape.
Quick tip: It’s often easier to select lines and objects using the layer menu, where all the objects appear in a list.
How to draw a line or shape on Google Maps on a mobile device
It’s easiest to draw lines and shapes on maps in a browser on your PC or Mac, but if you need to work on a mobile device, you can use Google’s My Maps, a web app that you can access from both Android and iOS.
1. Open My Maps in a browser on your mobile device.
2. If necessary, tap Get Started.
Tap “Get Started.”
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3. You can select an existing map to edit it or tap the plus icon in the bottom right corner to create a new map.
Tap the plus icon to create a new map.
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4. Under the search field at the top of the page, tap Draw a line (the button looks like three lines and three dots). Tap Add line or shape in the dropdown menu. Then follow the directions in the previous section to add and edit lines and shapes on your map.
You can add lines and shapes to a custom map.
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